Finally, a simple playoff scenario

Usually, you have to have a degree from MIT to figure out what needs to happen and why for a team to clinch a playoff spot. But here it is for the Giants this week:

Win or tie, and they're in.

Lose, and they're not. At least, not this week.

Here's why: The Redskins still have a shot to catch and pass them. If the Giants lose out and the Redskins win out, Washington goes to the playoffs while the Giants stay home. The reasons:

*Both teams will be 9-7.

*First tiebreaker: Head-to-head. That's a split.

*Next tiebreaker: Division record. Both would be 3-3.

*Third tiebreaker: Common opponents. Both teams will have played the Cowboys and Eagles twice plus the Dolphins, Lions, Packers, Patriots, Jets, Bills, Bears and Vikings once. Assuming the above scenario (Giants lose out, 'Skins win out), the Giants would be 6-6 in those games while the Redskins would be 7-5.

"Okay, but what about the Vikings?" you ask. They don't matter. In all multiple-team ties for the Wild Card, the first thing you do is eliminate the lower team within the division. And in all those scenarios, the Giants would lose out to the Redskins.

But with a win, they'd have 10 victories, which is a total the Saints, Lions and Cardinals can't reach. So for the purposes of clinching next week, it doesn't matter what those teams do.